Sept 28. London Demo against Westminster Council M/C parking charges

Wed, 1 Oct 2008 23:19:50

So you want to fly Starfighters, huh?

 

heh

 

One of the good things about here (sort of offsetting the instauration
of a police state and the proliferation of Arabs), is that one is rarely
more than two hundred metres from a métro stop. That, plus a yearly
season ticket (£53.08 per month for 3 zones, half of which is refunded
by the Ministry of Education) [1] means that one can hop on and off the
métro, buses whatever, and one just presses the pass onto the top of the
turnstile.[/QUOTE]

My zone 1-3 travelcard sets me back about 95 quid a month (amortised)
and does pretty much the same thing. I can usually get a seat in the
morning and always get one in the evening. Delays are pretty rare and
there are multiple routes I can take in the event of something going
seriously screwy.

Public transport in London is fine. As to the overcrowding, there are
10 million people in this town, of course it's bloody overcrowded!

 

Quite. Even my RGV makes a reasonably pleasant commuter. The GSXR runs
hotter than a thousand suns but if you don't mind the sound of the fan
it's quite an enjoyable way to pass a commute.

Half the door-to-door journey time compared to taking the tube, and I
wear pretty much the same clothes whichever method I use so no time
lost there either.

 

Oh, I wasn't knocking London. I really should get up there at some
point (aside from 'just passing through, as I will be in three weeks, en
route for Jimmyland). It's been .. <fx: thinks... >, **** it's been
twelve years since my last real visit.

Fucking hell. Getting old _sucks_.

D.

 

Oh, I wasn't knocking London. I ought to get up there at some point,
since Eurostar is so (relatively) cheap nowadays. It's been ... <fx:
counts...>, **** me, it's been twelve years since I've been in London
(other than passing through at Waterloo or Heathrow).

Getting old fucking sucks.

D.

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, Julian Bond

Way to GO, dude!

Excellent effort, I expect that will really make a big difference.

You should be very proud of yourselves.

 

Next Demo.

Friday, Oct 24, 1pm, Hyde Park Corner. Meet in Hyde Park underground car
park.

See you there.

More details at http://www.notobikeparkingfees.com/

 

I very much doubt it.

 

Not a fucking chance,

Reminds me of the MAG type stuff, all you'll do is piss people off to
no good effect.

 

Bit like the Iraq war protests then

 

Ooh, I do like a bit of negativity.

 

Wed, 8 Oct 2008 10:27:07

I guess you don't live or work in London then?

Sad that MAG and BMF have become so ineffectual. There's so many M/C
issues that need fighting and nobody to fight for our corner.

 

Despite my best instincts, I'll bite.

Who did the Stop The War protest piss off?
Isn't there a slight difference in proportion between the two?

 

It pissed off the same people trying to drive unobstructed through the
city, obviously. But you are right, the Iraq protests were much more
obstructive.

And for the record some days I care more about free bike parking than I
do about the fucking Ragheads. It's OUR oil....

 

But aren't there several other points here?

Aren't 'motorcycles' supposed to relieve congestion so should (could?)
be entitled some perks / encouragement to do so? I'm not sure how a
Hybrid car eases congestion (or pollution particularly) so should be
exempt anything (like the congestion charge) either in that case then?

I think it's equally to do with the fines rather than the fees? I hear
tales of bikes being done for being partly outside the parking box but
still over a bit of land that couldn't be used for anything else, by
anyone else ... over zealous application of the rules etc?

So one we have charging we open up the opportunity for fines which may
not be in line with the problem?

Once they start charging for bikes will they start charging the
disabled or 'parents' for their extra wide spaces?

Me too, but, if I did turn up and hadn't pre-booked or registered or

Pass. I've been an affiliate member of both through other club
membership but haven't ever done anything with / for them (apart from
some subs I guess). I'm not sure if they have ever done motorcycling
any harm have they? (genuine question)

It's not *just* a vehicle, it's .. ;-)

 

They are. They don't pay congestion charge and parking is cheaper than for
cars.

And the relevance of this to bikes?

So you don't think that illegally parked vehicles should be penalized. I
agree they could have a little leeway but that is a different issue.

I don't see why this has anything to do with charging for bike parking.

This is a valid point but just as relevant to cars as bikes.

 

Ok and fair enough re the CC, but is the parking charge really
justified?

I'm comparing something that takes up a load of room on the road when
moving and parked compared with something that doesn't? Don't some
cars also (still) get free parking?

But the issue I was referring to.

Example. Parking bay on an angle so you get a tapered gap between the
bay and the kerb / yellow line at one end. Bike overhangs box (too
many bikes, too few boxes) into this 'no_mans_land' and gets done.

Because they are *now* charging for something that was previously
exempt because (if I understand it right) they are providing more bays
(great and worth the parking fees [1] if that turns out to be the
case) and they are to provide extra security as well (as above).

Phew, I got something right then <g> ... but the point there was cars
have had to pay to park forever so the system(s) are long established.
*If* we want to actually go some way to easing congestion I believe we
have to offer a reasonable carrot for people to do so. Riding a bike
in congested cities can be inconvenient and dangerous at the best of
times so the carrot of no congestion charge (because you aren't) PLUS
the ability to both find a parking space easily AND park for free
might just help the cause (and therefore benefit all)?

We have seen peoples reluctance to leave their cars and use public
transport as it is and that's with all the fees and inconvenience they
suffer by doing so. What hope have we of getting them onto 2 wheels?

Just my 3dth ...?

[1] As long as said fees can be paid easily ie, without the
requirement to pre-register or pay by CC or mobile phone etc. I
haven't been into London by car (during the active timer) since the
congestion charging scheme started and I only live 12 Miles from the
centre.

 

I know. I have stayed out of London in a car so that's £8/day saved by
me as well. Why, because part of why I say out is the congestion
charge and part because there is nowhere (free) to park when I get
there. Not that I demand free parking, just that I choose to do the
other thing.

Granted, especially older ones or where the rider has thrown away the
catted exhaust for something louder. However, once we reach gridlock,
bikes will be the only things moving so that's gotta be 'better' (than
stationary non 2 wheeler vehicles) hasn't it?

Not on me (and I said 'tales') but I was told it was so by someone
with no reason to say otherwise (FWTW etc). I know directly of someone
done for a vehicle overhanging a box (wheels within) but it wasn't a
bike in this instance (it was a campervan).

Meh, just historic and in general with such things.

If I know in advance I'm going to need it yes. In general yes. Always
, no.

Likewise. However my focus was meant to be on these new
non_coin_in_slot means of payment. Why are bikes ever free on toll
bridges and the like (when cars aren't)? Isn't there sometimes more to
the process than just extracting cash from everyone?

Historic and in general with such things. Personally I'd whisk up
persistent parking offenders / fine dodgers vehicles and sell their
vehicles (for scrap or for the real value) sooner than they do atm.
However, there is a very fine / subtle line between someone
overhanging a bay, coming back 20 mins late after 6 hours worth on the
meter and someone repeatedly double parking or parking on (most)
yellow / red / zigzag lines etc. Or, someone failing to pay because
the system is too obscure and they are new to it all. Have you ever
wandered round a car park trying to find out if it's Pay and display,
take ticket on entry, pay on exit, free after 6pm etc etc?

Oh, ok, was it just the one twat the one time or are there loads of
instances?

 

Oh really, as bad as that? (the annotation not the life expectancy)
;-)

I have to admit I'm not really into politics and am apathetic to most
of the stuff that goes on around us, choosing my own little blinkered
/ naive way, giving up rights and moving on to other things rather
than fighting for them etc.

Maybe as / when they actually try to interfere with something that
really affects me AND where I believe some form of protest will
actually make any real difference I'll do so but until then I'll
stumble on as I am ... :-(

I can't knock those who do at least try to make a difference though.